MESA, Arizona — Rafael Ortega is not a power guy. In 410 career MLB at-bats, he has three home runs.
He did hit 21 homers at Triple-A Gwinnett in the Braves system in 2019, but that’s nearly a third of his 68 career minor league home runs in 4,135 at bats.
Ortega might never hit a regular-season home run for the Cubs. Heck, he might not play a regular-season game for the Cubs.
But he will certainly cherish the memory of hitting a walkoff grand slam Tuesday afternoon in Mesa before an enthusiastic gathering of 3,423 at Sloan Park, giving the Cubs an unexpected 9-8 win over the Athletics.